CAPE TO CAPE BIRD GROUP

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1 CAPE TO CAPE BIRD GROUP Hooded Plover Photo Christine Wilder CONTENTS Page Program 2 Excursion Report. 3-4 The Vasse River Delta Bird Hide, Busselton.. 5 Birding Beyond the Capes.. 6 Unusual or interesting sightings 8 Shorebirds 2020 Surveys Saturday 31 January (Note change of date) If anyone is interested in assisting with the annual shorebird count at the Vasse- Wonnerup Estuaries, Busselton on the morning of Saturday 31 st January then please let me know. We traditionally survey several sites around the estuaries in teams of 2-3. Novices always welcome! We will meet first at 8am at the Layman Road picnic site on the east side of Layman Road, opposite the Malbup bird hide. Bring along footwear suitable for possibly getting muddy, hat, sunscreen and lunch/chair if you feel like staying on afterwards. If you have a telescope that would be very useful. Hooded Plover Surveys 7 and 8 February It s time once again for the annual Hooded Plover surveys. Volunteers are always sought to survey beaches within the capes region. Our local coordinators are Jessica Worrall and Natalie Bell. If you wish to participate in a survey, please Marcus Singor on: msingor@iprimus.com.au Peter Taylor birdingsw@westnet.com.au Hooded Plover at Margaret Rivermouth on 16 th July 2014 Photo Jill Cornes

2 PROGRAM Monday 16 February Night Walk: Margaret River Meet at 7.00 pm for an excursion to private property at 95 Old Ellen Brook Road, turn off Caves Road almost directly opposite Carters Road. (Note this is not Ellen Brook Road which is a little further north). Look for a Birdlife sign at the gate which will be operated to let cars enter from 6.50 pm to 7.10 pm. The evening will consist of bird-watching, byo picnic dinner and spot-lighting for night birds and mammals. Bring along a torch. Leader: Boyd Wykes Saturday 28 February Monday 2 March: Labour Day Campout East Augusta and Milyeanup coast This is a BIRDLIFE WA bush camp on a private cattle property east of Augusta and during the weekend we shall be exploring East Augusta, Gingilup and Scott River. Places are limited but a small number has been allocated for the Cape to Cape Bird Group. You must book your place and not just turn up as there are locked gates at the campsite and on some of the excursions. There are no facilities no power and basic long drop toilets (or bring your own chemical toilet). Be self-sufficient for food and water. Only tents and camper trailers (no wider than a vehicle) are able to access the paddock entrance. No caravans. The track to the campsite is hard sand and a Hi-ace van with relatively good clearance has no difficulty accessing it. Christine will send out an information sheet prior to the campout showing where to meet, arrival and departure times and other details. For Birdlife WA members and guests only Leader: Christine Wilder Book by to: cwilderone@yahoo.com.au Note: If your name is already on the Perth list you do not have to book here. There may be a wait list. Sunday 15 March Half-day excursion: Jewel Cave and Cosy Corner Meet at 8.30 am at the car park at Jewel Cave off Caves Road. We shall bird-watch along the karri walk, have morning tea at the café and continue on to Cosy Corner, to observe any remaining Bridled Terns. Leader: Roger Crabtree Sunday 12 April at sunset The Great Cocky Count Get information and register as a volunteer at: great-cocky-count Note: All the local excursions/campouts/meetings are for Birdlife Australia members and the general public. In the event of threatening weather, those planning to attend an excursion (particularly if travelling some distance) are welcome to check conditions with the leader prior to the excursion (use individual mobile contact if given). The leader will always be present at the meeting place and will decide whether or not to proceed. For details of any of the excursions or meetings, please contact: Christine Wilder cwilderone@yahoo.com.au or Boyd Wykes majyx@iinet.net.au. Page 2

3 After morning tea in the park in Pebble Drive we took the beautiful shady walk along the Vasse River where bush and water birds were still very active despite the mid-morning heat. White-browed Scrubwren, Rufous Whistler and Inland Thornbill were present in the riverside vegetation. Wedge-tailed Eagles and more than a dozen darters circled high in a thermal above us. Looking for waders at Port Geographe Photo Christine Wilder EXCURSION REPORT Busselton Wetlands 17 January Predicting the best places to view waterbirds and shorebirds in Busselton three months in advance is difficult and this January was no exception with water levels quite high in some places and other areas completely dry. Christine took us to a number of sites chosen from her collection. Our group of nine made a short stop at a pump station along Layman Road, where we were able to look out over the Vasse estuary to observe hundreds of birds in the distance. Despite a stiff breeze and the angle of the sun we recorded a number of species including Red-necked Avocet, Blackwinged and Banded Stilt, Sharp-tailed Sandpipers and perhaps knots (or perhaps not). From one point we observed Australasian Darters at several nests with chicks on the other side of the river. At least eight Nankeen Night-Herons were roosting in the flooded gums. Before our group split up we stopped round the corner for a brief look at New River where there were more than twenty five White-faced Herons and a Yellow-billed Spoonbill. We had a really enjoyable morning and identified 62 species which we were very happy with. Thanks to Christine for showing us a variety of birding sites in one morning. Jennifer Hunt Then it was on to Pebble Drive to look out over the partially built/abandoned canal ponds which are always productive for birds. As well as many Black Swans and ducks there was a variety of shorebirds including Terek and Wood Sandpipers, Common Greenshank, Red-capped Plover and Red-necked Stint. More than 100 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers were roosting along the bank. Nankeen Night-Heron across the Vasse River Photo Jill Cornes Page 3

4 Bird List Busselton Wetlands Musk Duck Black Swan (several cygnets) Australian Shelduck Australian Wood Duck Grey Teal Pacific Black Duck Australasian Grebe Hoary-headed Grebe Rock Dove Laughing Dove Common Bronzewing Australasian Darter (breeding) Little Pied Cormorant Little Black Cormorant Eastern Great Egret White-faced Heron Nankeen Night-Heron Australian White Ibis Straw-necked Ibis Yellow-billed Spoonbill Whistling Kite Swamp Harrier Wedge-tailed Eagle Nankeen Kestrel Purple Swamphen Dusky Moorhen Eurasian Coot Black-winged Stilt Banded Stilt Red-necked Avocet Red-capped Plover Terek Sandpiper Common Greenshank Wood Sandpiper Red-necked Stint Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Silver Gull White-tailed Black-Cockatoo Little Corella Purple-crowned Lorikeet Australian Ringneck (28) Red-capped Parrot Rainbow Bee-eater Splendid Fairy-wren White-browed Scrubwren Western Gerygone Yellow-rumped Thornbill Inland Thornbill Striated Pardalote Singing Honeyeater (at Port Geographe) Red Wattlebird White-fronted Chat Brown Honeyeater New Holland Honeyeater Rufous Whistler Grey Fantail Willie Wagtail Australian Raven Magpie-lark Silvereye Welcome Swallow Tree Martin Birds roosting on spit at Vasse Estuary Photo Christine Wilder Sorting out the darters and the night herons Photo Christine Wilder Page 4

5 COCKATOO CAPERS THE VASSE RIVER DELTA BIRD HIDE, BUSSELTON January Diary On the 19 th January Jill and I visited the Vasse River Delta bird hide in Busselton where we recorded a pair of Freckled Ducks. Three Glossy Ibis were in the pool at the rear of Rotary Park. On the 26 th November 2014 I surprised a flock of 12 to 14 Baudin s Black-Cockatoos feeding in pelargoniums along the top of Baudin Drive, Gnarabup. Jane Scott Jill and I dropped into the bird hide again on the 21 st January and although there were 400 to 500 ducks on the water, no Freckled Ducks. However we did have good views of a male Chestnut Teal. There were two rather dark looking Grey Teal in close proximity, but we were uncertain if they were female or immature Chestnut Teal. Roger Cornes Above Freckled Duck with teal Below Musk Duck Photos Jill Cornes On 23 rd January I identified a small flock of Baudin s Black-Cockatoos on Mitchell Drive, Prevelly, just behind the primary dune, feeding on seeds of the wild radish weed. Peter St. Clair-Baker Three cockatoo photographs taken by Hank Durlik Page 5

6 I ll need a return visit as apparently there s a lot more to see! The caravan park has recorded more than 100 species within its boundaries including big numbers of Carnaby s Black- Cockatoos which we observed settling en masse on an adjoining crop field to feed every morning. Regent Parrot BIRDING BEYOND THE CAPES Birding at the Bluff Knoll Resort and Caravan Park, Stirling Ranges A spring visit for some bushwalking in the Stirling Ranges in early November 2014 proved to be a birding bonus! The caravan park at the entrance to Bluff Knoll has an amazing variety of birds that can be readily seen by walking along bush tracks provided within the park itself or simply by looking out from your park accommodation. I recorded 37 bird species in only a few hours of spotting and it was exciting to observe several species that I had not seen before including Restless Flycatcher, Crested Shriketit and White-winged Triller. Sacred Kingfisher One advantage of having a spouse who is a talented amateur photographer is that I can direct the digital capture of some of these birds. One particular highlight was seeing a young Fan-tailed Cuckoo being fed by a White-browed Scrubwren. The photo shows the cuckoo mouth open awaiting the incoming scrubwren, which is faintly seen as a ghostly image on the left of the picture. Fan-tailed Cuckoo White-winged Triller The Stirling Ranges are fabulous for birding and also, in the right season, wildflowers - a great place to visit any time of the year. All photographs on this page taken by Therese Sayers Michael Sayers Page 6

7 BIRD PHOTO GALLERY Pair of Eastern Osprey nest building Photo Roger Crabtree Male Southern Emu-wren Photo Hank Durlik New Holland Honeyeater in Bullich Photo Roger Crabtree Rainbow Bee-eater Photo Hank Durlik Australian Magpie in burnt area in West Margaret River Photo Boyd Wykes Wood Sandpipers at Wonnerup Photo Jill Cornes Page 7

8 UNUSUAL OR INTERESTING SIGHTINGS I appreciate receiving unusual or interesting sightings and photographs (including panorama scenes) from the capes region and articles for inclusion in future newsletters. All contributions will be acknowledged. Please to me at: cwilderone@yahoo.com.au Sacred Kingfisher in West Margaret River Photo Boyd Wykes Here are the recent sightings: Hooded Plover 2 adults with runners at Boranup Beach, January, 2015 John Prins Southern Boobook Family of 4 roosting during the day in peppermint trees at West Margaret River, for several weeks to 27/12/14 Christine Wilder Sacred Kingfisher 1 in garden, West Margaret River, January 2015 Boyd Wykes Australian Pied Oystercatcher at Augusta foreshore Photo Roger Crabtree Eastern Great Egret at Port Geographe Photo Christine Wilder Snoozing Southern Boobook Photo Christine Wilder (downy feathers still showing, zoom used to minimise disturbance) Page 8